Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Pie

Want to make a 5 minute dessert? Well, 6 minutes if you count licking the bowl clean...

No stove! No oven! No microwave!

I came up with this recently when I was having guests over and needed a super fast but super yummy dessert to round off a great meal...I had these ingredients on hand, and it turned out delicious!

Ingredients

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-1 ready oreo crust

-1 8 ounce package cream cheese

-1 cookies and cream pudding mix

- 1 3/4 cups milk

Assembly

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-blend cream cheese with an electric mixer until it is soft and fluffy

-stir in milk and mix until the cream cheese has blended with milk and there are no lumps

-stir in pudding mix and blend for 2 minutes

-pour mixture into the oreo crust

-refrigerate for about 30 minutes and ENJOY!

**note: you may have some extra filling that you can just refrigerate and top with fruit and granola for a parfait**

Arugula and Roasted Beet Salad

This is my new favorite salad. All thanks goes to Giada for this one! A testament to the goodness of this recipe is that I only altered one thing, which is rare for me ;-) Its funny that I'm so obsessed with this dish because I'm not a huge fan of beets. Something about their soft texture and sweetness never appealed to me, but after reading the ingredients for this salad and roasting the beets, I love them!

The presentation of this salad is beautiful because it is so colorful with the green arugula, purple beets, white feta and green avocado! Everyone who's tried this recipe has really loved it, so I REALLY recommend this one :)

Ingredients

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-7 ounce package of arugula (I've also made this with mixed baby greens)

-1/3 cup cranberries

-1/3 cup diced walnuts

-1 large beet, peeled, boiled, and sliced (I'm sure you can use canned, but I haven't tried it)

-1/2 cup feta cheese, I used a Mediterranean seasoned type(Giada uses goat cheese, but I can't stand goat, so I use feta)

-1 sliced avocado (Giada uses only 1/2 of one)

Dressing

-----------

-1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

-1/3 cup olive oil

-1 tablespoon honey

-Salt and pepper to taste

-3 tablespoons shallots (about 1 medium sized shallot). If this is hard for you to locate, red onions are a good substitute

To make

-----------

-Mix 1-2 tablespoons of dressing with beets. Spread onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. I've used my toaster oven for this to avoid preheating the oven, and it worked great.

-In a serving bowl, mix the arugula with cranberries and walnuts. Toss with dressing.

-Layer the beets on top of the arugula, then layer the cheese and avocados.

-Serve and savor every bite as you enjoy this scrumptious salad!

Couscous Salad

I LOVE making salads! Especially when its a hearty dish, and includes all the food categories...like this one! I learned this from my friend Sarah, who altered the recipe from a cooking show.

Since its a salad, there is little heat involved, so your kitchen can stay nice and cool during these hot summer days. For a vegetarian or lighter version, skip the chicken.

Serves 2 people for a main meal and 4 people as a side dish.

Ingredients

---------------

-1 cup prepared couscous (boiled according to instructions on box)

-1/2 cup diced tomatoes

-1/2 cup diced cucumbers

-1 cup garbanzo beans

-1 cup cooked and cubed chicken (optional)

-1/2 cup diced marinated artichoke hearts

-1/3 cup diced green onions

Dressing

------------

-1/2 cup marinade from artichoke hearts

-1/4 cup white vinegar

-1/2 cup fresh minced mint

-salt and pepper to taste

Assembly

-------------

-Toss all the ingredients together and season with salad dressing.

-Serve!

Stay tuned for a SUPER AMAZING salad recipe coming your way...

Turkey and Olive Tapenade Panini

I made this up recently using ingredients I already had around the kitchen. We loved it so much I made it for three days in a row! I had no plans of posting it because technically it is just a turkey sandwich, but the olive tapenade took it to such a new level that I felt I had to share this easy recipe :)

There is no need for mayonaise or any other 'sauce' in this sandwich because the tapenade keeps it moist and adds INCREDIBLE flavor. Look for a tapenade with green olives and sun-dried tomatoes, it'll taste the best!

This makes 1 sandwich, alter as needed!

Ingredients

---------------

-2 slices of your favorite sandwich bread

-3 slices lean deli turkey breast

-1 tablespoon olive tapenade

-1 slice cheese (I used a dill white cheddar)

-freshly cracked black pepper

Assembly

-------------

-Spread olive tapenade on 1 slice of bread

-Layer with turkey slices, black pepper and cheese. Top with second piece of bread

-Toast in a panini or sandwich maker (I use my George Foreman grill)

- Slice in half and serve!

Lemon Pepper Chicken and Potatoes

This is my youngest sister's favorite meal...when I make it! She says its so lemony and good, and literally jumps for joy when I make it for her. Good news for me is that it only takes 15 minutes to prepare, and the oven does the rest!

This is a classic and staple meal in Syrian households, and is literally called "chicken and potatoes" in Arabic.

This serves 4 people, 2 pieces of chicken each.

Ingredients

--------------

-8 pieces of red meat chicken (I always use boneless skinless chicken thighs)

-2 large onions, slivered (you can replace this with 1 large head minced garlic)

-3-4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and cut into rounds

-1 and 1/4 cup lemon juice (use fresh or bottled)

-1/2 cup olive oil

-lemon pepper sesasoning (use enough to coat all the chicken)

Assembly

------------

-Preheat oven to 450 degrees farenheit

-Layer the potatoes, chicken and onions in a 13x9 baking dish

-Season with lemon pepper and add lemon juice and olive oil

-Cover with foil and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours. Uncover and broil the tops for 5-10 minutes, until chicken and onions are slightly crisped.

-Serve with pita bread or white rice.

Tabbouleh

This is a classic, 100% authentic Syrian salad. It is typically very time consuming when made for a large family, but thanks to my friend, the food processor, the prep time is chopped in half ;)

Some people add lettuce or finely chopped cucumbers, but I've just listed the basic traditional recipe. Feel free to experiement! I've made this with spinach instead of parsley, and you can barely taste the difference :)

Ingredients

------------

-1/4 cup bulghur #1

-juice of 2 lemons

-2 large tomatoes, chopped finely

-4 green onions, chopped finely

-2 bunches of American parsley (if chopping in a food processor)  or Italian parsley (if chopping by hand)

-2 tablespoons dried mint (or fresh)

-1 teaspoon paprika (for color)

-salt to taste

-2-3 tablespoons olive oil

optional:
-1 cup finely diced cucumber

Assembly

----------

-Combine bulghur and lemon juice in a bowl. Let the bulghur soak up the lemon juice for about 30-45 minutes.

-Add the tomatoes, green onions on top of the bulghur mix. This lets the juice from the tomatoes be soaked into the bulghur

-Soak the parsley in water, and then drain and rinse. Repeat this process 3 times or until your water is clean. Once it is clean and well drained, place in batches into the food processor. Chop by pulsing in 3 second intervals until the parsley is finely chopped. Be careful not to turn it into mush. (Alternatively, you can use Italian parsley and finely chop by hand with a sharp knife. Either works :)

-Place chopped parsley on top of the tomatoes and green onions. Add 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, mint, salt and dash of paprika. Add optional cucumber. Toss together and serve!

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

This is a spin-off version of two soups in one. Panera's chicken and wild rice soup and Olive Garden's new gnocchi soup.

Ingredients
-------------

-1 cup packaged gnocchi (half of the 16 oz package)

-3 cups boiling salted water

-1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken

-1 tablespoon olive oil

-1 cup frozen or fresh chopped spinach

-1/2 cup diced carrots

-1/2 cup diced mushrooms

-1/2 cup diced celery

-4 minced garlic cloves

-2 cups chicken broth

-2 cups half and half

-1/2 cup fresh basil

To make

---------

-Place water in a pot and turn on high. Once the water boils, add the gnocchi. Follow package directions for cooking time. Drain and set aside.

-Heat olive oil in a pot and saute carrots, celery and mushrooms until tender. Add garlic halfway through. Stir in shredded chicken and spinach, then add the half and half and chicken broth. Add salt to taste.

-Simmer on medium low heat for about 15 minutes, then add the gnocchi and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add fresh basil and black pepper.

**Serve with crusty french bread and enjoy :) **

Awesome recipe book tip

I saw this on the Rachel Ray show a while back, and I HAD to share it with you guys. I think it is a GENIOUS idea, I've already tried it!

Soft cookbooks are kind of hard to keep open while cooking, and if you prop them open on the table they flip closed or can get dirty while you use them. So a viewer of Rachel's show submitted a tip that goes like this:

Get a pants hanger and clip each side of the cookbook to one side of the hanger, and HANG from the cabinet knob! Isn't it great?!

How about you guys post some of your own great ideas, I know you have them... :)

Herb Citrus Chicken and Vegetables

Dude, this one rocks! It smells good, looks good and tastes GOOD. All the ingredients are so fresh and flavorful, and it is really low fat and healthy! With summer basically here, this is a super easy recipe to grill on the bbq...let the fun begin!

Ingredients

------------

-1 lb chicken tenders

-4 cups fresh veggies (I used zucchini, mushrooms and red potatoes)

Marinade

----------

-zest of 1 lemon

-zest of 1 orange

-2 tablespoons of each fresh herb: mint, oregano, thyme and basil (I recommend at least 3 different kinds of fresh herbs. Others you can use include parsley, rosemary, cilantro, etc.)

-3-4 cloves fresh minced garlic

-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

-optional: some olive oil would probably taste great, but I was trying to cut the fat...feel free to drizzle some

Assembly

----------

-Mix marinade ingredients in a bowl. Separate half the marinade into another bowl.

-Place chicken in one of the bowls with the marinade. Place veggies into the other bowl. Let them marinate for at least 20 minutes. During this process, pour whatever liquids accumulate from the veggies over the chicken.

-Place chicken and veggies on pre-heated grill (I used a George Foreman) until they cook.

Cream Cheese Chicken Rolls

I've noticed I like cooking Mexican, because whenever I am trying to think of something new to make with the ingredients I've got on hand, my mind goes in that direction. Either Mexican or Italian, and that usually involves starchy pasta, so I skip it :)

These were a big hit at a recent family dinner, and I'm making them again for the same family this weekend! Just get your rotisserie chicken and in no time at all you'll be ready to wrap and roll!

Ingredients

------------

-1 shredded rotisserie chicken (you can make this or purchase)

-1 tablespoon olive oil

-1 large red onion, cut into strips

-1 lb frozen bell pepper mix

-1 cup salsa

-1 cup corn kernels (optional)

-1 8 oz package cream cheese

-2 tablespoons nacho cheese sauce (I used what was left of the Tostitos cheese dip)

-2 tablespoons taco seasoning

-1 tablespoon paprika

-salt to taste

-24 flour tortillas

Assembly

----------

-Heat olive oil in a pan and add red onions. Cook halfway and then add the frozen bell peppers. Stir and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until they get soft and are mostly cooked.

-Add the shredded chicken, salsa, corn, cream cheese, nacho sauce and all the seasonings.

-Stir until cream cheese has melted and the mixture is well coated.

-Place 1/4 cup of mixture onto middle of tortilla bread and roll. Repeat.

-Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes, then serve!

I cut each tortilla roll in half before I baked it, and I ended up with 48 smaller rolls. These freeze well (you can bake them prior to eating) and reheat to taste just as yummy!

Salsa Tilapia Fillets

My friend Amira had us over for a lovely dinner, and it was amazing. This is was just one of the super good dishes she made, and I got her permission to post it because it qualifies as (a) simple ingredients, (b) easy to make, and (c) DELICIOUS!

I'm not a huge fan of fish, and since I thought this tasted great, I was really excited to share it with you guys!

Ingredients

------------

Salsa:
------
-1 can diced tomatoes (large size)
-3/4 c. parsley
-3/4 c. cilantro
-5 cloves minced garlic
-½ diced onion

-2 tablespoons of olive oil
-1 tablespoon cumin (or more, you can taste the salsa as you go along)

-juice of 1 lemon
-salt and pepper to taste

-tilapia (1.5 lbs) or 6 tilapia fillets

-salt and pepper

Assembly

----------

-Combine the ingredients for the salsa in a bowl, taste and adjust measurements.

-Spread a very thin layer of salsa on the bottom of pyrex dish. Layer tilapia fillets and season with salt, pepper and cumin. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.

-Spread the rest of the salsa on top of the tilapia.

-You can cover and marinate this overnight if you have the time.

-Bake UNCOVERED at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

-Serve with freshly squeezed lemons.

Mexican Salad

I made this with chicken on top for dinner. Great news everyone: It's almost fat free! The only fat comes from the chicken, and chicken breast add lots of protein without too much icky fat. The dressing goes well as a sauce for chicken or meat dishes too!

I didn't include measurements for the ingredients because you can alter the quantity to fit your liking.

Ingredients

------------

-shredded romaine lettuce

-diced cucumbers

-diced cherry tomatoes

-finely diced green onions (use the white part in the salad and save the greens for the dressing)

-black beans

-corn (optional, I didn't use it)

-cooked chicken breast strips (or a shredded rotisserie chicken)

-fresh salsa (this comes in a container, found in the refrigerated section of a grocery store, NOT the jar)

Dressing

---------

-1 cup fat free plain yogurt

-1/2 cup packed cilantro

-1 clove garlic

-green tips of green onions

-salt to taste

-seeded jalapeno (optional)

**you may want to use 1 tablespoon sour cream or mayonnaise to thicken dressing**

Assembly

----------

-Layer the ingredients in the listed order: lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, black beans, corn, chicken, fresh salsa

-Blend dressing ingredients using an immersion blender (or use a normal blender). If the sauce is too liquidy (yes, that is a real word in kitchen talk), add a tablespoon of sour cream or mayonnaise. Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad

-Garnish with optional shredded cheddar cheese and tortilla strips (I didn't do this, because it will obviously add fat :P)

Spinach Stuffed Chicken

I've been making this recipe for years, I got it a while ago from a KRAFT foods magazine. The presentation of it is beautiful, and it is an elegant dish to entertain with. I often change the filling, but this is the simple version I originally learned. The actual recipe calls for stuffing, but that always comes out overly soggy so I stopped using it.

Ingredients

------------

-8 chicken breast tenders

-1 cup spinach

-1 can diced tomatoes (the kind mixed with garlic and basil is super yummy)

-1 cup cut up mushrooms

-3 cloves minced garlic

-1/2 cup fresh basil, or a bunch of dried Italian spices

-salt and pepper

-fat-free Italian dressing

-mozzarella cheese for garnish

Assembly

----------

-Place the chicken breast tenders into a Ziploc bag and pound with a meat tenderizer to thin it out. If you don't have one, make your life easier and get one. If you insist on doing this the hard way, then use a can or anything hard and pound the chicken.

-Mix the spinach, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, basil and salt into a bowl.

-Spoon 1/4 cup of filling onto one end of the chicken breast. Roll up and place seam side down into a baking dish. Continue with the rest of the chicken. Season tops of chicken with salt and pepper.

-Drizzle the Italian dressing over the chicken breasts and bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the cheese on top of each piece of chicken.

I served this alongside the pesto and goat cheese rice bake.

Pesto and Goat Cheese Rice Bake

This is super fancy schmancy. It is totally company worthy because it calls for amazing ingredients and looks fantastic. The colors are so beautiful together, your eyes will eat it before your mouth does! It works as a great main vegetarian entree, or it can be made as a side dish. I made it to accompany stuffed chicken breasts (check back soon for the recipe :p).

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Ingredients

------------

-3 cups cooked rice (about 1.5 uncooked)

-1 3/4 cups shredded parmesan cheese

-1/2 cup prepared pesto

-4 ounces crumbled goat cheese (feta is a good substitute)

-1 10 ounce jar roasted red pepper, drained, patted dry and chopped

Assembly

----------

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray an 8 inch springform pan (I'm sure it will work with the regular 9 inch) with cooking spray.

-Mix rice with 1 1/2 cups of the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

-Layer half of rice on the bottom of the springform pan. Spread half of the pesto, sprinkle with half of the goat cheese, then top with half of the roasted peppers.

-Repeat layers. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of paremesan cheese.

-Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Apple Dip

I learned this recipe from my friend (she's also my SIL :)), and she learned it from a friend, and the friend learned it from a friend, and that friend...you get the idea, right?

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It's yummy with apples, and it tastes just as good on bagels too! The apples in the picture have sort of wilted, that's because it was soo good that I forgot to take the picture when it was first set out!

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Ingredients

-------------

-8 oz cream cheese (I used reduced fat)

-3/4 cup brown sugar

-1 teaspoon vanilla

-1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon

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Assembly

----------

-Using an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese for 1-2 minutes until it is soft

-Add the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and mix until well blended

-Chill in refrigerator and serve!

Olive Biscuit Cups

These are very cute, they are the perfect finger food! Use this recipe as a base for your creativity. I've filled these biscuit cups with many different mixtures, such as chili, shrimp, spinach dip, cheese, pizza ingredients...the list goes on and on!

Ingredients

------------

-1 can refrigerated biscuits (if using the flaky layers or jumbo type, split each biscuit in half)

-filling (in this picture I used an olive tapenade)

Assembly

----------

-preheat oven to 350 degrees

-press biscuit dough into mini muffin pan, let edges of dough extend over the cup

-fill generously with filling

-bake for about 8-10 minutes

-enjoy!

Thai Coconut Curry

The flavors in this dish are really robust and pronounced, every bite is packed with amazing flavor. I read a bunch of online recipes, and compiled this to accomodate our taste buds and readily available ingredients. The result? Take a wild guess! Better yet, try it for yourself and let me know!

The chunky peanut butter adds bits of peanuts, and adding shredded coconut helps to bring out the coconut flavors without tasting sweet. The lime makes a HUGE difference in this dish, it really emphasizes all the other ingredients.

Ingredients
-------------
-1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
-2 tablespoons oil
-4 diced green onions, whites and greens
-6 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 1 inch piece fresh minced ginger
-1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
-1 can bamboo shoots
-1 can coconut milk
-1/4 cup water
-1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
-1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter (chunky is best, but creamy works too)
-1 teaspoon curry paste (optional)
-1 cup spinach (not authentic, but you can't taste it, and it adds nice color)
-1/2 cup packed fresh minced lemongrass (optional, but it makes a difference)
- 4 squeezed limes
-1 cup fresh minced basil

-salt to taste

Assembly
----------
-To make in the slow cooker, add all ingredients except for coconut milk and basil and turn on low for 4 hours. Stir in coconut milk and basil during last 15 minutes of cooking.

Stove top:
-Heat oil in pot. Add chicken, green onions, red pepper flakes, ginger and garlic and cook until chicken is halfway cooked.
-Add salt, coconut milk, water, bamboo shoots, lemongrass, peanut butter, curry paste, lime juice and spinach. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
-Add basil and simmer for another 5 minutes. Serve!

Tortilla Soup

I LOVE tortilla soup. Any time I used to go to any Mexican restaurant, I'd have to order it. Until I perfected my own recipe, and it is SO much better than any other professional chef ;-)

A GREAT use for leftover fajitas (homemade, or even easier, brought back from a restaurant) is to throw them into this soup. It also really cuts the prep time.

Ingredients

------------

-2-3 cups leftover fajitas

OR

-2 tablespoons cooking oil

-1/2 pound chicken or steak or shrimp (or skip this step for veggie soup)

-1 of each, cut into short strips or cubes: yellow onion, red, green, yellow bell pepper (or buy frozen bell pepper medley)

-1 can corn

-1 can black beans

-leftover mexican rice OR 1/4 cup uncoocked rice

-1 squash, cut into small cubes

-1/2-1 cup mild salsa or picante sauce (fresh tastes awesome, but anything works)

-1 bunch minced cilantro

-4 cloves fresh minced garlic

-2 green onions, white and green parts

-4 cups broth or water

-2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Garnish (optional)

---------

-sour cream

-avocado slices

-shredded cheese

-tortilla chips

To make

---------

-Heat oil in pot, combine optional chicken/steak/shrimp. Cook halfway, then add onions, bell peppers, garlic, squash, rice and green onions until squash and rice are halfway cooked.

-Add salsa, beans, corn, broth and taco seasoning.

-Simmer until rice is cooked. Add cilantro and cook for 5 more minutes.

This all goes MUCH faster if the chicken and veggies are precooked, and the rice is already made.

-Garnish with optional toppings.

Olive Caprese Skewers

On a whim, I made these up using ingredients from my fridge, and they ended up being a hit! The best thing about these skewers is they are really cute and colorful. This can really be altered to fit whatever ingredients are on hand.

Ingredients

------------
-pitted olives (green or black)

-mozzarella string cheese cut up into 4 pieces (cubed cheese of any flavor will also work great)

-grape or cherry tomatoes

-cute skewers

Assembly

----------

-thread an olive, cube of mozzarella cheese and a grape tomato on each skewer

-make as many as you like :)

**Suggestions**

----------------

-green olive/cheddar/tomato

-kalamata olive/fresh basil leaf/mozzarella/tomato

Orange Banana Cake

With the help of cake mix, this takes no more than 5 minutes to prepare! It is light and very moist, and tastes wonderful with the added fruit.

Ingredients

------------

-yellow cake mix, prepared as directed, but using orange juice instead of water

-2 chopped or mashed bananas

-1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)

-1 tub fat free cool whip

-caramel sauce

-2 cut up bananas

Assembly

----------

-prepare cake mix as directed on the box, but substitute orange juice instead of water. Use the same quantity of juice as what is called for in water

-stir in 2 chopped bananas and coconut

-bake for the minimum time as directed on cake mix box

-once cake is baked and has cooled, frost with cool whip

-arrange bananas around the cake and drizzle with caramel sauce

Not Your Typical Vegetable Pizza

I learned this unique pizza from a friend a few years ago. I'm kind of hesitant to call it a pizza because it is not layered the way traditional pizza is. It doesn't have much of a sauce, but more of a paste to bind together the veggies.

Whenever I make it, we really enjoy it. I'm sure some of the vegetables can be substituted with other types, but I always stick with these.

Ingredients

------------

-1 large zucchini, cut into chunks

-1 head broccoli, cut up

-2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

-2-4 tablespoons mayonnaise (depending on how saucy you want it)

-2 cloves fresh crushed garlic

-1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

-2 cups shredded cheese (I use either the Mexican blend or mozzarella

-pizza dough (you can use my recipe or use pre-purchased dough)

Assembly

----------

-cut up all ingredients and mix together

-spread on top of pizza dough

-bake for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven at 400 degrees (you will know the pizza is done when the vegetables have gotten soft but still have a slight crisp

Pizza Dough

This is a VERY versatille dough recipe...and like all other things I make, veeeeeeery easy!

Ingredients

------------

-3 cups flour

-1 cup warm milk (this can be made with water instead, but milk is a little better)

-1/4 cup oil

-1 tablespoon yeast

-dash of salt

-be creative with seasoning: you can leave it plain, or add italian seasoning, fresh rosemarey, fresh garlic...the possibilities are endless!

Assembly

----------

-Mix all ingredients until well blended. This can be done by hand (that is how I do it) or in a bread machine.

-This recipe works best when it is given time to rise. After I mix the ingredients, I leave it for an hour or two, then I roll it out on my pizza pan and leave it to rise for a couple more hours.

-Bake (with whatever toppings, different pizza recipes will follow soon) in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 18-23 minutes.

Why I Love Trader Joes

This is not a recipe :)

It's more of a 'be a smart shopper' story.

I went to buy pumpkin spice, and I found the tiny jar (on the right) at WalMart for about $4. It is REALLY tiny for $4, but I figured I was at WalMart, so it probably doesn't go for less than this. I bought it and was really annoyed.

A few days later, I was walking by the spice aisle at Trader Joe's, and I found a jar double the size (on the left)! To my utter surprise, the price was...guess how much...

....

......

........

$1.99!

Yup, DOUBLE the size, and HALF the price. Check my math, but I think that means the WalMart jar costs 4 times as much as the Trader Joe's one! Trader Joes...WalMart...which has better quality stuff...hmmm...

Moral of the story? Be a smart shopper. WalMart is not always the cheapest, and Trader Joe's is definitely NOT overpriced!

Chocolate Trifle Heath Bar Dessert

What does every awesome dessert on the face of this earth need to have? CHOCOLATE! And this has a lot. Which makes it SO good, even for (weird) people who claim to not love chocolate! You can eat this guilt-free, because it's so low in fat!

Ingredients

------------

-1 package chocolate cake mix, baked according to directions, making TWO 8 or 9 inch round pans

-1 prepared package of fat free/sugar free chocolate pudding

-1 tub fat free cool whip

-4 crushed Heath bars (the more you use, the better)

To Make

---------

-assemble 1 of the cakes in the bottom of a trifle bowl or other round bowl

-spread half of the chocolate pudding

-spread half of the cool whip on top of the pudding

-sprinkle 2 of the crushed Heath bars

-repeat all the steps for a second layer of all ingredients

-cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate AT LEAST 24 hours in advance...if you leave it for 2 days, it will taste absolutely amazing!

Okra Simmered in a Cilantro & Garlic Tomato Sauce (Bamyeh)

I've tried searching Middle Eastern recipes on the internet, and they just don't exist. Unless you have Arabic installed on your computer, and can search for the recipes in that language. Which I don't. So I've decided to post all my Middle Eastern recipes as I make them, although they are not really originals.

This is a really good dish. My 4 year old was eating this and saying "mmm...delicious!" after every bite :)

**This can TOTALLY be made in the slow cooker. Just layer all the ingredients except for the cilantro and minced garlic (which you will add when it is fully cooked), and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.**

Ingredients

------------

-1 tablespoon olive oil

-1 pound beef stew meat (depending on how much your family likes meat), cut into 1 inch cubes

-s&p to taste
-1 teaspoon coriander
-1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
-1 teaspoon all spice
-optional: 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
-1 package frozen okra

-3 cloves garlic, sliced finely
-1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses or lemon juice

-14.5 ounce can tomato sauce

-4-5 cans water

-1 cup finely diced fresh tomato, cut into small cubes OR 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (optional)
-1 bunch cilantro, diced finely
-3 cloves minced garlic

To make

---------

-heat olive oil in pressure cooker. Add stew meat and cook half way through, about 10-15 minutes. Season the meat with coriander, cardamom, allspice and cumin seeds. Add frozen okra and let it defrost in the pot. Take care not to over mix, because okra will mush. Add sliced garlic and pomegranate molasses, and stir gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

-Once okra has defrosted, add tomatoes and tomato sauce. Fill tomato sauce can with water and add to pot. Bring sauce to a boil. Cover pressure cooker. Once it is 'pressured', reduce heat to low and cook for 30-35 minutes.

-Uncover lid and add fresh minced cilantro and fresh minced garlic. Let sauce simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

-Serve with bulghur or rice 

**If you do not have a pressure cooker, increase cook time to about 45-60 minutes, or until meat is tender.**

I'd love to connect with you! Like SavvyChef on facebook and follow Savvy_Chef on instagram. Tag Savvychef in your creations and pin the recipes on pintrest :)

Sunflower Seed and Everything Else Salad

I made this salad up with a certain craving in mind...something tart, sweet and nutty, and very hearty! I kept the dressing very simple, and it helped pronounce the flavor of the ingredients.

This will feed 4 adults for lunch, or provide 6 generous portions to accompany a main meal.

Ingredients

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-3 cups (or 6 ounce bag) of 7 lettuce blend (or European style blend...any of the fancy stuff is fine...probably even romaine)

-1 pear, cut into small cubes

-2 Persian cucumbers, finely diced

-1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

-1 avocado, cubed

-1/4 red onion, minced

-1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped

-1/2 cup orange cranberries (if you don't have orange flavored, normal cranberries will do)

-1/2 cup sunflower seeds

-1/2 cup Mediterranean seasoned feta cheese (or plain feta)...next time I'm trying this with goat cheese

Dressing

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-juice of 1 lemon

-zest from 1/2 a lemon

-3 tablespoons olive oil

-salt to taste

-fresh cracked black pepper

To make

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-toss all the ingredients together
-mix in dressing right before serving

Oreo Fudge Ice Cream Cake

Oreo Fudge Ice Cream Cake. You could stop at anyone of those words and be happy. Seriously. Very happy. The best part? Knowing it was so easy to make, and 1/4 of the cost of a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.

I got this recipe from Kraft foods, and I followed it almost exactly as they said. It is recommended for 12 servings.

Ingredients

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-1 package chocolate pudding mix (you can really mix this cake up by changing the flavor of pudding)

-1/2 cup warmed chocolate fudge (another way to change the cake. I made 2 of these, one using dark mint fudge, and the other using Reese's peanut butter fudge)

-1 tub (8 oz) thawed Cool Whip (use fat free, you won't tell the difference)

-10 chopped oreo cookies

-12 unwrapped vanilla ice cream sandwiches (again, you can mix up flavors)

To make

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-Mix pudding mix and fudge in a bowl until well blended. Add 1 cup of cool whip, and stir until it is mixed in well. If the mixture is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of milk. Stir in chopped oreo cookies.

-Lay out 4 of the ice cream sandwiches, side by side, to form a rectangle shape. The long sides are what go next to each other, like this: IIII

-Spread half of the fudge mixture on top of the sandwiches. Layer another 4 ice cream sandwiches on top of that. Spread the remaining fudge on top of the ice cream. Top the second fudge layer with the remaining 4 ice cream sandwiches.

-Frost the 'cake' with the remaining cool whip. Drizzle with fudge or additional oreo cookies. Freeze for 4 hours.

Slow Cooker Masala Chicken

 This has been one of the most searched and viewed recipes on my blog...and for good reason! It's ridiculously simple to throw together and the flavor will blow your mind. Tender chicken breast, soft veggies, caramelized onions and a creamy spiced sauce make this the ultimate comfort meal on a busy weeknight or as the star of a dinner party! Like many slow cooked meals, this tastes even BETTER the next day, so leftovers are a plus :)

If preparing in advance, you can place everything in your pot to marinate until the next day and cook fresh for your meal. Alternatively, you can cook it all the day before and reheat in your slow cooker. Of course you can also make this on a stove and it will be ready in about 30 minutes (perfect for those of us who don't always plan ahead!). Customize the flavors to your preference. For a strong flavor of Indian spices, use less (or none) of the half and half. For a creamier sauce and subtle spice flavor, use more!

A huge thank you to my sister Hanna for taking all these beautiful photos :) She's recently become quite the talented chef and photographer...just look at her plated presentation of this dish!

Serves 4-5 adults

Ingredients

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-2 large onions, cut into thin strips
-1/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)

-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes

-3 or 4 medium sized potatoes, cubed (peeled or not, I chose to peel)

-1/2 cup chopped carrots

-1 jar (15 oz) Masala simmer sauce (I got mine from Trader Joe's, but it is available in different markets)

-1 cup water

-1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger (or 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons dried ginger)

-2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic

-salt to taste

-1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (1 bunch)

-1/2-1 cup half and half (or heavy cream). If using heavy cream use less. The more half+half/cream you use, the more it will dilute the flavor of the spices, but it tastes really delicious! 

To make
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-Saute your sliced onions in oil until they are soft and browned. Set aside 1/2 of the onions for garnish at the end. Do NOT skip sauteing the onions, they add a lot of flavor! 

-Place  the other 1/2 of the sauteed onions, chicken, chopped potatoes, chopped carrots, Masala simmer sauce, water, ginger, garlic and a dash of salt into your slow cooker. Cover and cook for 5 hours on low, or 3 hours on high. (Stovetop cooking time is about 30-40 minutes on medium high heat, until the chicken is tender and the veggies are soft).

-In the last 30 minutes of cooking, uncover lid and taste the salt, adjust to your liking. Add the chopped cilantro, and half +half. 
-When ready to serve, plate and garnish with reserved sauteed onions and additional cilantro. 
-Serve with Pea Ginger Rice
-Enjoy!

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One Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

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